![Watchdog warns short term fixes are leaving parts of the NHS ‘financially unstable’](https://chadlaw.dnsupdate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/dreamstime_s_21732712-740x388.jpg)
11
Feb 2020
Watchdog warns short term fixes are leaving parts of the NHS ‘financially unstable’
The spending watchdog has warned that the NHS has become too dependent on “short term fixes” to fund critical services, leaving sections of the health service seriously financially unstable.
The National Audit Office voiced the warning over the ability of the NHS to meet increasing demand in two recent reports, which come after A&E waiting times hit record levels in December, with one in five patients seen outside of the four-hour time limit.
The watchdog found that NHS trusts were over £828m in the red and clinical commissioning groups had failed to balance the books.
Head of the NAO, Gareth Davies, said “The short-term fixes that were introduced to manage the NHS’ finances are not sustainable.
“The Department of Health and Social Care continues to provide some trusts with short-term loans just to meet their day-to-day costs with little hope they will be repaid.
“This is not a sustainable way to run public bodies.”
Chair elect of the public accounts committee Meg Hillier, said “The health service is addicted to unacceptable short-term fixes to cover the fact that it is not tackling long-standing issues.
“Hospitals have built up loans they’ll never repay, workforce shortages continue and waiting times are getting longer.”
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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